DTI tells customers to be wise in purchasing school supplies

CEBU, Philippines - The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI-7) tells customers to be wise in purchasing school supplies as the agency noted a slight increase in the prices of school supplies across the four provinces in Central Visayas, although some known brands have retained old prices.

DTI-7 regional director Asteria Caberte said that an average of two to three percent price increase of basic school supplies was noted based on the weekly monitoring campaign of the department. However, because of stiff competition especially in the urban centers some retailers have not increase their prices in the last few weeks.

“Please be guided by the quality and choices because there are wide array of products, it will depend on brand selection and quality,” Caberte warned consumers.

Based on the school supply monitoring campaign conducted by DTI-7, Aspen brand notebooks (40 leaves) increased its price by 14 percent, Grade 1 (80 leaves) writing pad paper Advance Pack brand surged by 12 percent, while Star, Best Buy and Easy Writing brands have maintained their prices in the last few weeks.

According to Caberte her office has to strictly monitor the prices of school supplies, in the light of the wage hike issue.

Aside from the monitoring, DTI-7 is also conducting a program called “Diskwento Caravan” across the region, inviting school supplies retailers to go with to the remotest areas in the provinces, and give discounts to consumers.

Caberte said her office has talked with manufacturers and suppliers to roll out the “Diskwento Back to School Promo and Caravan” in the region from May 31 to June 15 this year.

School supplies identified are bags, shoes, school uniforms, notebooks, pad papers, pencil cases, lunch boxes, raincoats, uniforms, socks, ballpens, and pencils, among others. Also, included are processed food items for the school children’s snack and lunch.

“This is to arrest the spikes of increases noted in our monitoring,” Caberte said.

In Cebu, the store-based Diskwento Back To School Promo will be participated by Happy Mart (Colon, South, Mandaue and Tabunok) now up to June 19; Ajiichiban Ayala and SM on June 1 to August 31; Cribz in Ayala now up to July 25; Converse (Sports Mix Marketing Corporation) in Banilad Town Center from June 15-20; White Gold in Cebu City ongoing up to June 13; Unitop in Tabunok now up to June 15; Fooda Saversmart (Guadalupe, Consolacion, Mango) from May 16 until July 17.

Roving Diskwento Caravan in either Argao or Dalaguete will be in June 4 or 5 and will be participated by Julie’s Bakeshop, Cebu Bazaar, National Bookstore, and Liwayway Marketing.

 For Bohol, the campaign will be participated by Island City Mall, Plaza Marcela, Alturas Main, Alturas Talibon, Bohol Quality Corporation from May 31 to June 2. The Diskwento Caravan in Talibon, Trinidad, Ubay, Loboc, Sevilla and Baclayon will be participated by the Alturas Group of Companies from June 7 to 10.

For Negros Oriental, the store-based Promo will be participated by Lee Super Plaza from May 15 to July, Cang’s Inc. will participate from May 15 to June 15.

The roving Diskwento back to School Promo in Bayawan City on June and Guihulngan on June 3 will be participated by Lee Plaza, Island Merchants, Macro Distributors, Tulong Sugar and NFA.

In Siquijor, the roving Diskwento Caravan in Siquijor Capital Square and Poblacion Siquijor, Siquijor on June 3 will be participated in by Alvarico Warehouse, Park N Go Bakeshop and Julie’s Bakeshop; the caravan in Larena Queen Gate and North Poblacion Siquijor, Siquijor on June 10 will be participated by R2M Marketing, Alvarico Meatshop, Alfonso Siquijor Plaza, Lynard One-Stop Shop, Jayvee Marketing, Meying General Merchandise, Inocencia Baroro Dry Goods Store, Islands Trends & Fashion, Almie Dry Goods Center, Rafonsel Dry Goods Store, AM & M Store, Uni-J Thrift Mart, Capricorn Twenty Two Store, Uy Chiao Tian Commercial, Elvis Tan Store, Star General Merchandise and Stefi Denise Store.— (FREEMAN)